The Willie Mullins-trained State Man has been ruled out for the season after suffering a tendon injury.
The eight-year-old has 12 Grade One victories, including three Irish Champion Hurdles, three Punchestown Champion Hurdles and the 2024 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He looked set to successfully defend his title at Prestbury Park in March before falling at the final obstacle and was due to return in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday week, a race he has won twice.
However, he will now miss the entire campaign. Mullins told Sporting Life: “Sadly State Man has suffered a tendon injury on the gallops here. He’ll definitely be out for the rest of the season.”
State Man’s stablemate Lossiemouth has assumed joint-favouritism for the race, alongside Dan Skelton’s The New Lion at 3-1.